Lateral structure of a grafted polymer layer in a poor solvent

Journal Article · Mon May 23 00:00:00 EDT 1994 · Macromolecules; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ma00089a007· OSTI ID:7267623

Zhao, W; Rafailovich, M H; Sokolov, J ^[1]; Krausch, G ^[2]

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1. State Univ. of New York, Stony Brook, NY (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
2. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering

The authors have used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study the lateral structure of end grafted poly(styrene) chains on a silicon substrate in air. As the grafting density is decreased, the chains are found to clump together into islands, resulting in a highly inhomogeneous monomer density with considerable portions of the substrate exposed to air. The transition from a stable homogeneous film to the clump formation is in agreement with recent theoretical simulations of polymer brushes in different solvent conditions. The islands are found to be interconnected by thin arms, which can be visualized as isolated chains stretching out on the substrate.

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-90ER45437
• OSTI ID: 7267623
• Journal Information: Macromolecules; (United States), Journal Name: Macromolecules; (United States) Vol. 27:11; ISSN MAMOBX; ISSN 0024-9297
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201* -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
ELEMENTS
GRAFT POLYMERS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
MATERIALS
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYSTYRENE
POLYVINYLS
SAMPLE PREPARATION
SEMIMETALS
SILICON
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON HYDROXIDES
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS